Architecture

Feature Doc on Urban Design Out Soon (Trailer)

Urbanized is a feature-length documentary about the design of cities, which looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers.

September 23, 2011 - urbanizedfilm.com

Europe's Architecture Trendsetters

In interviews with key figures at four of the most influential European architecture firms, the constant theme was that architecture philosophy needs to recognize that eco-friendly design is the future of design innovation.

August 16, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal

Rahul Mehrotra Talks Indian Urban Planning

Rahul Mehrotra talks to The Hindu about sustainable cities, community participation, and infrastructure. The article also has a review of his most recent book "Architecture in India Since 1990."

August 16, 2011 - The Hindu

Preservation's Need for Diversity

Preservation will have to include a more diverse and multi-ethnic population in order to stay relevant, writes Kenneth Caldwell for The Architect's Newspaper.

July 14, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

Using Adaptive Reuse as a Tool for Urban Redevelopment

Architect Alan Pullman talks about how adaptive reuse and green architecture can be used to revitalize urban neighborhoods and springboard economic growth, using a recent project to demonstrate.

April 26, 2011 - Buildipedia.com

Skyscrapers of the Future

The 2011 eVolo Skyscraper Competition turned up some unusual and futuristic designs for future skyscrapers and other structures, from a reimagined Hoover Dam to a Ferris Wheel-shaped wind turbine.

April 24, 2011 - Popular Science

The Burden of Understanding Placemaking

Scott Doyon laments his growing knowledge of what makes great places because of how overly aware it makes him of bad planning and design.

April 5, 2011 - PlaceShakers

Small is Beautiful (and Necessary)

Building sizes have been creeping upward for centuries, but green building expert Jason McLennan argues that smaller structures are better, more beautiful, and ecologically inevitable.

March 29, 2011 - Yes!

Major Riverfront Development Stymied in L.A.

After 25 years in conception and a recently renewed master planning effort, the 150-acre Piggyback Yards still awaits funding and approval from the city, reports The Architect's Newspaper.

December 2, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Washington DC Considers Modifying Height Limit On New Buildings

The 1910 law, responsible for preserving views of the capitol from most roof decks, is being challenged by a small group of architects and developers who believe a modest change would inject vitality, sustainability and revenue into the urban fabric.

November 6, 2010 - The Herald Tribune

Glancey Argues Consumerism Engenders Poor Architecture

Jonathan Glancey argues that in the wake of the UK government's culling of Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, and a recession which only diluted our consumerist thirst, the current aim to build cheaply has cost us design quality.

November 6, 2010 - The Guardian

Corbu-o-Lantern

For Halloween, a group of designers from Steven Holl turned their favorite architects into jack-o-lanterns.

November 3, 2010 - The New York Observer

LEED Critic Files $100M Lawsuit Against USGBC

In a complaint on behalf of 'consumers, taxpayers, building design and construction professionals,' Henry Gifford alleges the USGBC has falsely claimed its ratings system leads to energy savings.

October 21, 2010 - Environmental Leader

Architects and Designers Explore Urban Pandemics

Viral pandemics can devastate cities. In this review of pandemics of the past and present, this piece from Places suggests that urban design can play a much more important role in public health and pandemic prevention.

October 19, 2010 - Places

Dear Uncle Sam: Transit Design Really Does Matter

Over the past decade more than $75 billion in public dollars has been invested in rail transit. Los Angeles, Seattle and Denver alone are investing an additional $65 billion to expand their systems and enhance the livability of their communities. The federal government will be asked to play a major role in funding each of those systems. Up until now the federal role in major transit investments has largely avoided the question of how we ought to design our transit systems to be good neighbors and leverage livable communities.

September 7, 2010 - G.B. Arrington

A New Ethic for Urban Reinvention

In a unique collaboration, an American lawyer and a Venezuelan architect merge thinking on holistic design, planning and regulation

August 23, 2010 - myurbanist

'Next Exit for Transportation's Future' is Generally Banal

The latest planning exhibition at the Center for Architecture has a "certain 1970s openness, a live-and-let-live philosophy, a crunchy impression enhanced by the bicycles hanging in the Center’s double-height display window," says Alexandra Lange.

July 30, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Tiny Town Counting On Boom Courtesy of 007

Gensler has revealed the designs for The Museum of Bond Vehicles + Espionage, which will be located in Momence, Illinois. Momence, pop. 3000, is hoping the museum could jump start their economy and put them on the map.

July 19, 2010 - Fast Company

Shanghai's Faux World Cities Fail to Catch On

A decade after its inception, Shanghai's One City, Nine Towns project, an ambitious attempt to manage the city's massive population growth via the creation of international-themed satellite communities, has failed to deliver hoped-for results.

July 7, 2010 - Assembly

Talking Design with Rios, Clementi, Hale

A varied involvement in architecture, landscaping, planning and product design has allowed the practice of Rios, Clementi, Hale to weather the recession. The designers describe to Marissa Gluck how they have navigated a path through divergent fields.

June 9, 2010 - The Architects Newspaper

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.